Algae and melting?

[Oblio]

I'm totally new to plants and have recently planted several Kleiner Bar Swords. After I purchased some new lights, NICREW RGB +W 24/7, I noticed one of the leaves (far left in pic) turning translucent and everything (except the fish) was being covered with brown algae. Is the translucency what the term 'melting' describes? I've brought down the Nitrate level from ~20 to ~4 and gently cleaned some of the heavily covered leaves. The planted Kleiners are fed via Flourish tabs. Any advice on reducing the algae?

Established 120 gal tank

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 4
pH: 7.5
Temp 79 F
Lighting: 9 hrs Full intensity with ramp up/down in morning and evening.

 

[Byron]

This is most likely a nutrient issue which the Flourish Tabs will correct (if this is actually the issue). I've been using these for ten years, they are good. Having said that, this is an outer leaf and with all species in the genus Echinodorus the new growth comes in the centre of the crown, and older leaves may pale and die off. The plant is able to move certain nutrients from older leaves to new growth. Once the leaf is brown at the base of the petiole, you might as well remove it (at this stage they tend to come away easily).

The light may be an issue though, too bright. Especially if this occurred after changing the lighting. I don't know much about LED, but is there any info as to the intensity? Can it be reduced? And what is the spectrum?

Floating plants can r4eallly help, do you have any in this tank?

 

[Sgooosh]

also the swords are probably grown emersed, if they are putting out new leaves that look different, then they are fine.
do not remove the old leaves only remove once they are all translucent the plant is pulling the nutrients out of the leaf to reuse

 

[itiwhetu]

These plants prefer soft acid water, so it may take some time for the plant to adjust to the higher pH of your tank.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

How long has the tank been set up for? Brown algae coating everything is generally diatoms. diatoms are super common in new tanks and will generally burn themselves out in a month or so.

9 hours + sunrise&sunset may be too long a photoperiod. Generally I tend to aim for 6-8 hours and would only have 30 minutes ramp up/down on either side max.

 

[Oblio]

The light may be an issue though, too bright. Especially if this occurred after changing the lighting. I don't know much about LED, but is there any info as to the intensity? Can it be reduced? And what is the spectrum?

I can control each channel, RGB and White. Specs attached (Two 33W units on a 72" tank). I thought I saw a spectrum somewhere but that may have been another brand.

Floating plants can r4eallly help, do you have any in this tank?

Not yet, not sure what to get.

 

[Colin_T]

I can control each channel, RGB and White.

make them all the same

 

[Oblio]

How long has the tank been set up for? Brown algae coating everything is generally diatoms. diatoms are super common in new tanks and will generally burn themselves out in a month or so.

9 hours + sunrise&sunset may be too long a photoperiod. Generally I tend to aim for 6-8 hours and would only have 30 minutes ramp up/down on either side max.

It was a rescue Goldfish tank for many years, the tank has been setup tropical for well over a year but only had a lone Glofish Tetra for about a year. Thanksgiving week I added ~20 Tetras (Glofish* and Buenos Aries) and 8 Corys along with the plants.

* - Wife and kids like these, I've kinda grown to like them too.

 

[Oblio]

make them all the same

Looking at the default settings, daytime is 100% for each channel (RGB and W). That being said, there appears to be a problem with one of my lights (I have two 36" spanning 72" tank). I started a thread detailing the issue here - NICREW LED Color Variance

I'll probably reprogram to a shorter daylight cycle and reduce ramp times as recommended above.

 

[Oblio]

Reduced the Daylight program time (P2 in pic) to 6 hours, ramp was already at 30 min. I did not adjust Sunrise, Sunset, or Moonlight programs since I'd like to see the fish in morning and evening.

 

[Oblio]

Do I need to clean the algae off the leaves, or let the Corys and reduced light take care of it?

 

[Colin_T]

reduced light should clear it off

 

[FishHobby99]

I found the word “melting” confusing when I first heard it at a plant forum. They said if I didn’t have CO2 & intense lights, my red plants would “melt.” imagined them slowly dissolving, but they did indeed become translucent & lose leaves. I threw them away. Also had some tiger lilies melt.

 

[Oblio]

This also popped up about the time I reduced the light. I don’t necessarily mind it, as long as it doesn’t spread.

Added: On closer inspection it seems the bumps on the algae are bubbles, CO2 perhaps?

 

[Essjay]

Do I need to clean the algae off the leaves, or let the Corys and reduced light take care of it?

Cories aren't algae eaters so they won't have much impact on it.